Crime in progress? Tweet or text it

Rachel Cromidas

Digital natives, the Chicago Police Department is ready for you. Now Chicagoans can follow some of their local policing districts on Twitter, listen in on local community policing meetings online, and text tips and photos of in-progress crimes straight to headquarters.

So far, three Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) districts around the city have Twitter handles. They are @ChicagoCAPS07, @ChicagoCAPS11, and @ChicagoCAPS18. Officials said the Twitter pilot would eventually expand to all districts.

Officials also announced plans to allow Chicagoans who can't attend regular beat meetings to watch them online and submit questions in real time. They also unveiled a system where people may use their smart phones to send crime-related photos to 911 when calling to report a crime. And to text tips to police anonymously, text 274637 (CRIMES), with the word "CPD" in the message box. Detailed instructions are on the CPD website.